More than 430,000 Kiwis plan take a holiday in Queenstown Lakes District in the next year, according to a nationwide survey. 

Research company Horizon Research polled 1,131 adults from April 28-30. It found 34%, an estimated 1,229,600 million people, intend to take a domestic holiday in the next 7 to 12 months. 

Some 812,500 would like to holiday in Queenstown/Wanaka, while 431,600 will definitely holiday here in the next 7 to 12 months, Horizon estimates from the survey.

The news comes over the same weekend that the first post-Covid jet touched down in Queenstown from Auckland, and ski field bosses announced the Government had agreed there does not need to be a limit on the number of people who can hit the slopes this winter. 

Domestic tourism is the focus for Wanaka over the next few months, until a trans-Tasman bubble can open. Queenstown Lakes District usually welcomes about three million visitors per year.

But this is all against a backdrop of huge job losses for tourism and hospitality businesses. NZ Herald reported Good Group, which owns Botswana Butchery, White & Wongs and Harry's Pool Bar in Queenstown, is making 150 of its more than 300 staff nationwide redundant. 

In the survey, the Bay of Islands was the most popular destination, attracting an estimated 823,300 adults (378,700 definite).

Queenstown/Wanaka were second on the list, followed by 701,100 for Coromandel (339,400), 420,600 for Rotorua (227,500), 668,700 for Nelson/Tasman (344,300), 557,300 West Coast (259,400), and 269,600 Central Plateau/Tongariro/Ruapehu (134,000).

Those who indicated that they would definitely take a domestic holiday in the 7 to 12 months after lockdown restrictions were lifted each expected to spend an average of $2,320 on their trips.

And 12% of that group expected to spend more than $4,000. Only 5% were unsure how much they would spend.

Asked what sort of “mood” their domestic holiday would be if they were able to take it. Of those who said they would take a domestic holiday in the 7 to 12 months after lockdown restrictions were lifted:

Some 61% wanted to see New Zealand’s scenery; 59% wanted a relaxing holiday; while 59% wanted their holiday to be social/catching up /meeting people.

Horizon’s Principal, Graeme Colman says: “We’re hopeful [destinations] can use the insights to make the most of the restart – and in each of the coming 12 months. It should help them target potential travellers who most want the holidays they are offering.”